Game apparatus



Dec.27,193s. A WgFBRUSO .2,141,948l

GAME APPARATUS lFiled Feb. 18, 1937 Lose 2D Patented Dec. 27, 1938 Ef; STTES 2 Claims.

This invention relates to that type of game apparatus in which an indicator is shot rapidly up a guide along a scale, the point on the scale at which the indicator stops showing the score or some other feature of a game.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an indicator which will stop at the highest point to which it gets on the scale, instead of necessarily sliding back a short distance, thus giving a true indication of the score which is to be credited to the player and avoiding the usual inaccuracies; to provide an upright on which two scales can be mountedv conveniently, one on each side of the line oi travel of the indicator; to provide a separate piece which can be put over one of the scales and can be made to carry a scale on front and back so that, in turning it, two additional games can be played without complicated adjustments, and to provide an accurate judge stick which can be applied to the upright in such a way as to avoid all disputes as to the exact score measured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is an edge view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Eg. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a corresponding View of one of the extra scales;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of another extra scale;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, slightly enlarged, showing the scales in Figs. 3 and 4 applied;

Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the same as indicated by the arrow fi in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of this extra double scale;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1 showing the indicator in plan;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the top of the wire guide for the indicator, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a score judge to be used in connection with the scales.

The device is shown as standing on a base it, large enough to hold it without much vibration.

v From this base extends an upright Il vertically.

At the top of the upright there is a bracket l2 having a vertical passage therein in which is located a sleeve i3 having a passage therethrough for a guide rod Hl. The rod is screwed in the sleeve and is provided with a head l5 having a kerf so that it can be turned by a screw driver. At the bottom this guide rod is provided with a screwthread which screws into a nut l5 carried by the base so that the rod can be tightened up and held in a substantially rigid condition.

On the rod runs an indicator Il. This indicator has an oblong perforation therethrough larger than the rod so that it will naturally slide very readily along the rod and yet, when it comes to a stop at the top of its stroke, one end will point downwardly and it will be held there by the friction of the opposite sides of this perforation against the rod. The indicator is weighted so that its pointer i8 will extend downwardly into a groove I9 in the upright i l. This is an important feature because it insures that the indicator, whenever it is projected up the rod lll, will stop at its exact highest point and the pointer will indicate a score on the scales which will be mentioned later. The weighting of this indicator on its pointer side necessitates this action. It is always located at an inclination, as indicated, and it cannot turn to any other position. The indicator is lowered by turning its pointer up, thus releasing it from the groove.

For operating the indicator, a lever is provided, which is adapted to be driven down at its outer end by a hammer 2l or in any other way against a cushion 22. Preferably, this cushion is formed of sponge rubber or other yielding substance.

The playing of the game is accomplished by the turning of the lever from the full line to the dotted line position in Fig. 1 by pounding on it with this hammer. The lever is pivoted on a stud 23 carried by a bracket 2li, the connection being free so that the lever 2li can swing readily without resistance.

In Fig. 2 are shown two different scales 26 and 2l. The scale 26 evidently shows a baseball score and with its use a baseball game can be played, oi course. This necessitates a scoring means of some kind, which does not constitute a part of this invention. Likewise the game can be played on the scale 2l in which, for example, four strokes might be the number decided upon and the four letters which any player would make would be used in scoring in various ways. In case they happen to spell a word, an extra score can be given and a very heavy score, if they score some particular word, previously decided upon.4

It will be seen that on the edge of the upright is a headed screw 28. This is for the purpose of entering a perforation 29 in a sheet metal member 30. This member 3D is provided with two sides, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 7, on each of which there is a scale. The scale 3| is CTI one side and the numbers on it are arranged so that the players will make a number according to the scale or in some instances lose. The rst one reaching a certain number is the winner.

The scale 32 which is on the other side and the other side up in reality, as shown in Fig. 4, depends on color, each c'olor counting a certain amount. This sheet metal member can be taken off by sliding it up so. that the head of the screw will come in the enlarged portion of the slot 29, taken off, reversed and put back, to give the player an opportunity to play a diierent game.

It will be seen, therefore, that not only the four diierent games illustrated but many other different kinds of games can be played by the use of this game and the principles set forth therein.

In order to make the scoring more accurate a so-called judge stick is provided having a flat portion 34 for tting against the left hand edge of the upright, leaving a horizontal portion 35 projecting over both scales. If the indicator stops on or near a score, the judge stick is used to determine which score is to be recorded. It is placed so that the top of the horizontal portion rests on the scales just under the sliding score indicator I1. If the stick fully covers the line without moving the score indicator, the score above is recorded for the player. If the stick does not fully cover the line, the bottom score is recorded. This makes it possible to play various games, those being selected which are particularly interesting to the players who are using the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination with a vertical scale, an indicator movable upwardly along said scale, and means for projecting the indicator up the scale, of a guide rod parallel to the scale along which the indicator is adapted to move, said indicator having a perforation therethrough larger than the guide rod through which the guide rod passes, said indicator having a pointer located in position to move along a surface of the scale and being weighted to hold this pointer downwardly and the indicator at a denite angle on the guide rod, whereby the indicator will stop exactly at the highest point it reaches on each stroke.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a vertical scale, a guide rod near and parallel to the scale, an indicator movable upwardly along said guide rod, and a lever for projecting the indicator up the scale, said indicator having an oblong perforation therethrough larger than the guide rod and of such size that the indicator will, when it comes to a stop, assume a certain angle at the highest point to which it is projected, said indicator having a pointer movable along a smooth surface of the scale in contact therewith and being weighted to hold this pointer downwardly and the indicator at a denite angle on the rod.

WILLIAM F. BRUSO. 

